Austin Peay Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – The 20th annual Austin Peay State University Governors Bass Tournament is just over a month away.

This year’s edition will be held Saturday, May 10th, at Kentucky Lake, with registration and boat launching from Paris Landing, Tennessee, State Park. Last season’s tourney drew 282 boats—14 more than in 2012, despite entrants being forced to utilize the back entrance because of flooding.

Twelve thousand dollars in prize money will be awarded with a guaranteed first-place prize of $5,000. Second-place is guaranteed $1,500. Third and fourth-place will receive $1,000 and $600.00, respectively. The top 25 places will receive prizes.

Each individual entering the tournament has the opportunity to win as-of-yet unannounced grand door prize, with other door prizes also to be awarded.

The tourney will begin 6:00am, May 10th, although all contestants must be checked in between 4:00am-5:30am, with a mandatory meeting on the water at 5:45am. Pre-registration entry fee is $110.00 per boat (two people per boat), $125.00 after noon, Friday, May 9th.

Fishing with artificial baits only is authorized with no motor trolling allowed. A five-fish limit per boat exists.

The Governors Club will serve sausage biscuits prior to the tournament and hamburgers and hot dogs at weigh-in.

Weigh in will begin at 2:30pm and boats launching will take place in order of postmark of entry form. Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass measuring 15 inches (with mouth closed) will be weighed.

Last year, the team of Larry Etheredge and Steve Richerson, of Clarksville captured the $5,000 first-place prize with a five-fish weigh-in of 24.07 pounds. The haul was just slightly more than the team of Rodney Tidwell and Randy Stone, who took home $1,500 with a 24.01-pound catch.

For entry form and more information, stop by the APSU University Advancement office or call 931.221.7352 or 931.221.7127, between 8:00am-4:30pm. After business hours, call 931.624.2909 or 931.436.1044.